The Treatment:

A detailed summary of a film story. Often used to sell a project before the script is written.

Challenge:

Based on the subject matter and the parameters your class has established, develop project ideas and compose a simple one-page document that will act as a guide for developing thestory into a script. This treatment describes what you intend to do and why. Your scene must be developed so it stands alone, with a set-up, tension development (conflict/crisis) and resolution. Your treatment will be for a 60-90 second movie trailer for a book that you've read in english class this year (or from summer reading). Try to write your movie treatment for your trailer as if the book was being turned into a movie.

Things to Think About:

  • What characters are in the scene? What do they say? How do they communicate?
  • How will this scene deepen the audience’s understanding of the characters and their interpersonal relationships?
  • How will the audience feel the emotion you intend?
  • Does the scene make sense, given what has preceded it?
  • If it is an adaptation, does your scene alter the original story more than it should?
  • What setting have you chosen to illustrate this storyline or concept?